Haiti - News Updates

Credits: Paris/Getty - Courtesy of http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/galleries/haiti_earthquake/haiti_earthquake.html#ixzz0db7gMhl6

Government announcement of new camps

Government plans to build new camps for "as many as 400,000 people". However, there has been only formal announcement- 10km outside the city at Croix des Bouquets) 10,000. UN agencies now preparing the site and Inter-American Development Bank plans to fund permanent homes on one side of that site. Government has indicated that the 15,000 to 20,000 people now camped out on the Champ de mars downtown plaza (by the fallen presidential palace) cannot remain there indefinitely.

Banks to open: The government announced that banks in Port-au-Prince would open Saturday and Sunday to allow people to withdraw up to 100,000 gourds or US$2,500 each (equivalent). Banks outside the capital opened Friday for same purpose.

Oxfam's Response

Oxfam will work with the government and UN agencies to mitigate risks and ensure the project's success. And will advocate that the camps must be built to Sphere standards and any relocation to them must be voluntary. Planning must consider residents' need to access the places where they work and shop, as well as schools and medical care. Oxfam is concerned that the building of new camps not divert attention from the many people in informal camps throughout the city who need services.

Water and sanitation continue to be the main focus for OGB. Seven bladders are up and running serving total of 35,000 people; aim to target total of 82,000 by end of week. These include drinking water, washing facilities, and buckets.

Latrines are under construction at three informal camps:  ten latrines (6 women, 7 men) at Centre Sportif (2-4,000 people), Petionville Club golf course (15-20,000 people), Grace Medical (2,000 people). Preparation for watsan going on in two additional informal camps in Carrefour.

OQ began distribution Friday of bottled water, rice, first aid kits to clinics in affected areas in Delmas. (Stock donated by Belinda Stronach Foundation.) Mattresses, sheets and blankets, plus soap stock will be distributed this weekend. Assembling 10,000 family kits of kitchen utensils and other goods for distribution next week.

Intermon preparing to deliver water for drinking and washing, solid waste management and emergency shelter (plastic sheets) to camps of displaced in towns of Gressier (three camps totalling 9,500 people) and Place Santa Ana (3-4,000 people), as well as in Martissant, Port-au-Prince (3-3,500 people).